Emery Spartans fall to Delta Rabbits

Nick Stoddard catches a pass but it's ruled out of bounds.

By GARY ARRINGTONSports writer

The Emery High Spartan football team has dug themselves a hole after they lost their third region game of the season last week to the Delta Rabbits. With the 35-12 loss, Emery now stands 1-3 in region play and face an almost must-win situation this week when they play the North Sanpete Hawks in the final regular season game.

Delta is 4-0 in region 12 action and should be the region champion for 2010 this season. Delta will host Juab in their final game of the regular season. Juab is 3-1 for the season. Richfield and Manti are both 2-2 for the season and these two teams will face each other to close out the season. North Sanpete is 0-4 in region play this year but if they win the game this Thursday that would place them in a tie for the season. Emery does not want to get to this point.

Emery scored first in the game with Delta as they took advantage of a Rabbit turnover. Outside linebacker Jesse Winn played an option perfectly as he intercepted a quarterback pitch and Emery took over on the Delta 11-yard line. A run by fullback Jade Fielder got Emery five yards closer. Fielder then picked up another four yards on another run. Emery picked up a first down on a Delta penalty and the Cody Jones scored on a quarterback sneak.

Three Delta drives ended with the Rabbits losing the ball on fumbles. Besides the Delta drive ended with an Emery recovery, Emery also ended the first drive of the game with a fumble recovery by Clay Collard. The last drive of the first half also ended in a fumble by the Rabbits. Jacob Tuttle recovered this fumble.

Emery's second scoring drive came in the second quarter on a drive that started at the Delta 22-yard line. Emery ran the ball six times in the short drive as this time Taylor Cox got the score from 1-yard out. Emery went for two points on the point after attempt and each time were unsuccessful in their efforts.

Delta scored twice in the second quarter, twice in the third quarter and once in the fourth quarter. Delta's first score came on a 13-yard run after ending a 76-yard drive. Delta's second score came after the Rabbits blocked an Emery punt attempt. Delta recovered the blocked kick and scored on a 20-yard run.

Delta's third score came after an Emery fumble at their own 37-yard line. Delta's fourth score came on a 3-yard pass play after an 87-yard drive by Delta. The final score came on a pass intercepted by the Rabbits and returned 40 yards for a score.

Fielder was the leading rusher for the second week in a row as he carried the ball nine times for 55 yards. Cox carried the ball 13 times for 53 yards and Colton Fasselin carried the ball 10 times for 26 yards. Cody Jones carried the ball eight times for -19 yards. Jones also passed the ball nine times and completed three of those passes for 65 yards. Delta had 283 yards of offense in the game.

On defense, senior Nathan Mecham again led the team in tackling, this time with 9 tackles in the game. Geren Payne and Fasselin each finished the game with seven tackles.

Emery will play North Sanpete this Thursday at 7 p.m. in the last home game of the season which will be senior night. Emery is 5-4 for the season while the Hawks are 2-7 this season. North Sanpete defeated Millard in the first week of the season and then defeated new school Maple Mountain in the preseason. North Sanpete has played several teams close this season and will give Emery a good fight.